Lionel Richie to Headline St. Lucia Jazz Festival

When we spoke to Lorne Theophilus, St. Lucia’s newly appointed tourism minister, last week at the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in The Bahamas, he told Travel Agent he would like see more live entertainment along St. Lucia’s vibrant Rodney Bay area.

Well, if its anything like the entertainment the St. Lucia Tourist Board secured for the upcoming Saint Lucia Jazz festival, the Rodney Bay faithful will soon be "dancing on the ceiling."

Saint Lucia Jazz, now into its 21st year, will feature some of the best live performances from renowned local, regional and international superstars, with celebrated performer and multiple Grammy winner Lionel Richie, whose “Dancing on the Ceiling” reached No.1 on the charts in 1986, headlining this year’s festival.

The 2012 event, April 30 - May13, will feature more than 50 artists performing against diverse Saint Lucian locales.

Main stage performances get underway from May 9 to13 and are headlined by Richie, who has garnered five Grammys and 18 American Music Awards, among other accolades. Other musical heavy weights include accomplished South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela; five time Grammy winning artist Ziggy Marley - the son of iconic reggae legend Bob Marley; jazz aficionado Joshua Redman; hit R&B song writer turned performer and soulful songstress Keri Hilson; pop and hip-hop phenom Melanie Fiona and gospel king Kirk Franklin, among others. An array of Saint Lucia’s leading musical masterminds like Luther Francois, Ronald ‘Boo’ Hinkson, Richard Payne, Derek Yarde Project and others complement the cast.

Headlining the opening of Saint Lucia Jazz set for Monday, April 30 is Trinidadian power couple Fay Ann Lyons and Bunji Garland. Scheduled for the Mindoo Phillip Park,  the opening will also feature dancehall wonder Busy Signal and Saint Lucian singing sensation Teddyson John.

Visit www.stluciajazz.org and www.saintlucianow.com